WIDNES VIKINGS' coach Neil Kelly has confirmed that scrum-half and captain Ryan Sheridan is leaving the club at the end of the season.

WIDNES VIKINGS' coach Neil Kelly has confirmed that scrum-half and captain Ryan Sheridan is leaving the club at the end of the season.

Sheridan, halfway through a twoyear contract with the Vikings, will be joining Castleford Tigers.

He missed out on a farewell appearance in the 40-0 home defeat by London Broncos on Saturday because he was, according to Kelly, 'poorly'.

Former Leeds and Great Britain star Sheridan was the most high-profile of the Vikings' pre-season signings but has struggled with ill-ness and injury throughout the year.

The Vikings will be looking to recruit a new half-back, although Kelly will also be glad to have Dean Lawford back at his disposal in 2004, the diminutive scrum-half having missed the latter part of the season following a hernia operation.

Kelly said: "We have obviously felt the absence of Dean.

"He has been one of the brighter lights of the season and he is working his way back to fitness for next season. But we probably are looking to recruit in that area."

Widnes have also badly missed Australian stand-off Jules O'Neill who has had a knee operation but Kelly refuted suggestions that the Vikings are a one-man team.

"I think we lack a leader," he said. "At times in the second half against London it was more evident than at any other time this year.

"I have been impressing that on the board over the last few weeks as we look towards next season.

"Julian is a leader and a great player and while I wouldn't ever want to label us as a one-man team, I could understand why people would be making that assumption at the moment." The Vikings face bottom club Halifax at The Shay on Sunday in their final game of the season.

* AUSTRALIA have added 14 play-ers to their training squad for the end-of-season Ashes series against Great Britain, including likely captain Gordon Tallis.

Tallis, along with Shaun Berrigan, Dane Carlaw, Petero Civoniceva, Michael DeVere, Darren Lockyer, Brent Tate and Shane Webcke, are all called up from Brisbane Broncos.

RFL to decide who is up to Super standards

THE RUGBY Football League is to scrutinise all six promotion contenders before deciding if they are eligible to enter Super League.

The winners of the National League One Grand Final on October 5 will only be allowed to go up if they meet minimum Super League standards.

The finalists have been assured they will know whether or not they meet the requirements before the showdown at Widnes' Halton Stadium.

"All six contenders have been asked to submit business plans," RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis said at the play-off launch at Salford. "No decision has been made but both the finalists will know it before the Grand Final."

Clubs need to prove they have a sound business plan and an 8,000-capacity stadium.

* Great Britain coach David Waite and RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis will be on the panel of a State of the Game forum at a Warrington Wolves' Squadbuilder night.

Wolves' coach Paul Cullen and top ref Karl Kirkpatrick will also be on the panel this Thursday in the Touchdown Club at Wilderspool.

The event starts at 7.15pm. Adults £3, children & OAPs £2, members free.